Springfield will soon have a new option for soul food. Jenita
Harris is opening 710 Rippy G’s in the food court at White Oaks Mall on Saturday,
July 27.
The name was chosen to honor her late brother-in-law, whose birthday was July 10. “He was one of the best cooks in the family,” she said.
Harris said she owned a catering and event planning business for years, in addition to a hair salon and clothing boutique. Originally from the Chicago area, she operated her businesses in Villa Park for 20 years before closing them in April to make the move to Springfield.
“My family is here, and I had been operating Shop Therapy Boutique
(in White Oaks Mall) since 2021. It started as a pop-up and turned into a
full-time business,” Harris said. Her two daughters help manage the boutique.
“I decided to retire from hair and go full-time with the clothing boutique
and restaurant,” she said. She describes 710 Rippy G’s as a combination of soul
food and Chicago-style offerings.
“We’ll have Chicago-style hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza puffs and
more traditional kinds of fast food,” Harris said. “But we’ll also have things
you don’t always get at restaurants like ox tails, neckbones.”
Harris said that while the kitchen doesn’t have the capacity to offer
a large menu on a daily basis, a different dinner will be featured every day.
Entrees will include dishes such as fried chicken, smothered pork chops and mostaccioli
with sides like mac and cheese, green beans, dressing and cornbread. Desserts
include peach cobbler, banana pudding, lemon pound cake, butter cookies and
sweet potato cheesecake.
Hours of operation will be Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-7
p.m.
